Bat having reduced weight and improved batting effect

ABSTRACT

A bat of the invention includes a handle portion, a connecting portion, and a hitting portion. The handle portion and the connecting portion are both made of fiber composite material. The connecting portion has a small radius end connected with the handle portion, and a large radius end having a first slope section. The hitting portion has a fiber composite material layer and a metal layer. The fiber composite material layer has an end wall, and a peripheral wall connected with the end wall and having a second slope section. Two ends of the metal layer respectively have third and fourth slope sections which are respectively connected with the first slope section of the connecting portion and the second slope section of the fiber composite material layer. As a result, the bat of the invention is reduced in weight and effectively improved in batting effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to bats and more particularly, to a bat which is reduced in weight and improved in batting effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, bats are primarily categorized into wooden bats and aluminum bats. As to the wooden bat, because the wooden bat has relatively higher weight, it is strenuous for the general batter to swing the wooden bat. Besides, the speed of swinging the wooden bat is relatively lower, so the ball is usually batted with insufficient power. As to the aluminum bat, it is lighter than the wooden bat in weight, and has higher coefficient of rebound than the wooden bat, thereby capable of batting the ball relatively farther through the great elasticity. But the aluminum bat has a disadvantage of relatively lower rigidity strength, so a hollow is liable to occur at the region of the aluminum bat where the ball is hit. For solving the aforesaid problem of the traditional bats, the bat made of composite material is developed in the recent years. But at present the composite bat is hard to strike a balance between being reduced in weight and being improved in batting effect, thereby not widely used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a bat which can strike a good balance between being reduced in weight and being improved in batting effect.

To attain the aforesaid primary objective, the bat of the present invention includes a handle portion, a connecting portion, and a hitting portion. The handle portion and the connecting portion are both made of fiber composite material. The connecting portion has a small radius end and a large radius end. The small radius end of the connecting portion is connected with the handle portion integrally. The large radius end of the connecting portion has a first slope section. The hitting portion has a fiber composite material layer and a metal layer. The fiber composite material layer has an end wall and a peripheral wall. An end of the peripheral wall is connected with the end wall integrally. Another end of the peripheral wall has a second slope section. Two ends of the metal layer have a third slope section and a fourth slope section respectively. The third slope section of the metal layer is connected with the first slope section of the large radius end of the connecting portion. The fourth slope section of the metal layer is connected with the second slope section of the peripheral wall of the fiber composite material layer. As a result, the hitting portion of the bat of the present invention has the arrangement using two different materials, that enables the bat of the present invention to be effectively improved in the batting effect thereof under the condition of being reduced in weight, thereby attaining the objective of the present invention.

Preferably, L is defined as the length of the hitting portion; D is defined as the longest distance between the third slope section of the metal layer and the fourth slope section of the metal layer; L and D satisfy the equation: L>D≥L/2.

Preferably, an end of the metal layer further has a cladding section which is connected with the fourth slope section integrally and provided on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the fiber composite material layer, wherein T1 is defined as the thickness of the peripheral wall of the fiber composite material layer; the metal layer further has a supporting section; the third and fourth slope sections are integrally extended from two ends of the supporting section respectively; T2 is defined as the thickness of the supporting section; T3 is defined as the thickness of the cladding section of the metal layer; T1, T2 and T3 satisfy the equation: T2>T1+T3.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the appearance of a bat of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the bat of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of a bat of a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

First of all, it is to be mentioned that same reference numerals used in the following preferred embodiments and the appendix drawings designate same or similar elements or structural features thereof throughout the specification for the purpose of concise illustration of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the bat 10 of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a handle portion 20, a connecting portion 30, and a hitting portion 40.

The handle portion 20 and the connecting portion 30 are both made of fiber composite material. Specifically speaking, they are both made of carbon fiber composite material in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion 30 has a small radius end 32 and a large radius end 34. The small radius end 32 of the connecting portion 30 is connected to an end of the handle portion 20 integrally. The large radius end 34 of the connecting portion 30 has a first slope section 36, as shown in FIG. 3.

The hitting portion 40 has a fiber composite material layer 50 and a metal layer 60. In this embodiment, the fiber composite material layer 50 is made of carbon fiber composite material, and the metal layer 60 is made of aluminum alloy. The fiber composite material layer 50 has an end wall 52 and a peripheral wall 54. The end wall 52 has a recess 56. The peripheral wall 54 has a straight section 57. An end of the straight section 57 is connected with the peripheral edge of the end wall 52 integrally. A second slope section 58 is extended from the other end of the straight section 57 integrally, as shown in FIG. 3. The metal layer 60 has a supporting section 61. A third slope section 62 and a fourth slope section 63 are integrally extended from two ends of the supporting section 61 respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. The third slope section 62 of the metal layer 60 is connected with the first slope section 36 of the large radius end 34 of the connecting portion 30. The fourth slope section 63 of the metal layer 60 is connected with the second slope section 58 of the peripheral wall 54 of the fiber composite material layer 50. Besides, as shown in FIG. 3, the metal layer 60 further has a cladding section 64 which is extended from the fourth slope section 63 integrally and provided on the outer peripheral surface of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54. Specifically speaking, in this embodiment, the cladding section 64 of the metal layer 60 is provided on the whole outer peripheral surface of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54. That means the length of the cladding section 64 of the metal layer 60 is substantially equal to the length of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54.

As to the length proportion of the hitting portion 40, as shown in FIG. 3, L is defined as the total length of the hitting portion 40; D is defined as the longest distance between the third slope section 62 of the metal layer 60 and the fourth slope section 63 of the metal layer 60; L and D satisfy the equation: L>D≥L/2. That means D is at least equal to half of L. As to the thickness relation of the hitting portion 40, as shown in FIG. 4, T1 is defined as the thickness of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54 of the fiber composite material layer 50; T2 is defined as the thickness of the supporting section 61 of the metal layer 60; T3 is defined as the thickness of the cladding section 64 of the metal layer 60; T1, T2 and T3 satisfy the equation: T2>T1+T3. By the aforesaid structural arrangement, the metal layer 60 can bring the best effect.

However, it should be additionally mentioned that in this embodiment T1 is 2.0 mm, T2 is 4.2 mm, and T3 is 0.5 mm. Because the third and fourth slope sections 62 and 63 of the metal layer 60 are extended from two ends of the supporting section 61 of the metal layer 60 integrally, the thickness of the third and fourth slope sections 62 and 63 of the metal layer 60 are gradually decreased from 4.2 mm (the thickness of the supporting section 61) to 0.5 mm.

On the other hand, the cladding section 64 of the metal layer 60 is unlimited to be provided on the whole outer peripheral surface of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54 but may be provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54, depending on the practical requirement. In the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the length of the cladding section 64 of the metal layer 60 is at least equal to half the length of the straight section 57 of the peripheral wall 54.

Through the aforesaid configuration, the hitting portion 40 of the bat 10 of the present invention has the arrangement using two different materials, wherein the metal layer 60 is provided at the sweet spot of the hitting portion 40 for improving the batting effect, and the fiber composite material layer 50 is provided at other positions of the hitting portion 40 for improving the rigidity and reducing the weight, so that the bat can strike a good balance between being reduced in weight and being improved in batting effect, thereby attaining the objective of the present invention. 

1. A bat comprising: a handle portion made of fiber composite material; a connecting portion made of fiber composite material and having a small radius end and a large radius end, the small radius end of the connecting portion being connected with the handle portion integrally, the large radius end of the connecting portion having a first slope section; and a hitting portion having a fiber composite material layer and a metal layer, the fiber composite material layer having an end wall and a peripheral wall, an end of the peripheral wall being connected with the end wall integrally, another end of the peripheral wall having a second slope section, two ends of the metal layer having a third slope section and a fourth slope section respectively, the third slope section of the metal layer being connected with the first slope section of the large radius end of the connecting portion, the fourth slope section of the metal layer being connected with the second slope section of the peripheral wall of the fiber composite material layer, wherein L is defined as a length of the hitting portion; D is defined as a longest distance between the third slope section of the metal layer and the fourth slope section of the metal layer; L and D satisfy an equation: L>D≥L/2, and wherein the peripheral wall of the fiber composite material layer further has a straight section; an end of the straight section is connected with the end wall integrally; the second slope section is extended from another end of the straight section integrally; the metal layer further has a cladding section extended from the fourth slope section integrally and provided on an outer peripheral surface of the straight section of the peripheral wall.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. The bat as claimed in claim 1, wherein T1 is defined as a thickness of the straight section of the peripheral wall; the metal layer further has a supporting section; the third and fourth slope sections are integrally extended from two ends of the supporting section respectively; T2 is defined as a thickness of the supporting section of the metal layer; T3 is defined as a thickness of the cladding section of the metal layer; T1, T2 and T3 satisfy an equation: T2>T1+T3.
 5. The bat as claimed in claim 1, wherein a length of the cladding section of the metal layer is at least equal to half a length of the straight section of the peripheral wall.
 6. The bat as claimed in claim 5, wherein T1 is defined as a thickness of the straight section of the peripheral wall; the metal layer further has a supporting section; the third and fourth slope sections are integrally extended from two ends of the supporting section respectively; T2 is defined as a thickness of the supporting section of the metal layer; T3 is defined as a thickness of the cladding section of the metal layer; T1, T2 and T3 satisfy an equation: T2>T1+T3.
 7. The bat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall of the fiber composite material layer further has a straight section; an end of the straight section is connected with the end wall integrally; the second slope section is extended from another end of the straight section integrally; the metal layer further has a cladding section extended from the fourth slope section integrally and provided on an outer peripheral surface of the straight section of the peripheral wall.
 8. The bat as claimed in claim 7, wherein T1 is defined as a thickness of the straight section of the peripheral wall; the metal layer further has a supporting section; the third and fourth slope sections are integrally extended from two ends of the supporting section respectively; T2 is defined as a thickness of the supporting section of the metal layer; T3 is defined as a thickness of the cladding section of the metal layer; T1, T2 and T3 satisfy an equation: T2>T1+T3.
 9. The bat as claimed in claim 7, wherein a length of the cladding section of the metal layer is at least equal to half a length of the straight section of the peripheral wall.
 10. The bat as claimed in claim 9, wherein T1 is defined as a thickness of the straight section of the peripheral wall; the metal layer further has a supporting section; the third and fourth slope sections are integrally extended from two ends of the supporting section respectively; T2 is defined as a thickness of the supporting section of the metal layer; T3 is defined as a thickness of the cladding section of the metal layer; T1, T2 and T3 satisfy an equation: T2>T1+T3. 